New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-26
MR.. GLADsToyEs CHALLENGE

Mr. Gladstone's speech in opposition to Co
ercion is challenge to a majority party that
is confident OF its power TO defy him. II Is
bold, uncquivocal and unanswcrable, but be-
yond commanding the attention Of the country
will have no influence in modifying the
policy Of the Government. The new closure
rule may not be applied so vigorously "a it
would have been if he had not denounced it
as an instrument of Parliamentary tyranny /;
but the Coercion bill will be forced through
the Commons 10y the combined vote of the Con
seryaiyes and Unionists. Mr.. Glads one is power
less 10 defeat it, hut his challenge will ring out
through the United Kingdom end sound the
ultimate doom of force legislation for Ireland
Coercion was q failure when it commanded
the combined vote of the two great English
parties. What reason can the most reSoute
supporters of the Government offer for its
success at present when four fifths Of the Irish
delegation are against it and when Mr.. Glad
stone with the majority Of the Liberal members
behind him is denoupcing it as contrary TO
justice and expediencyY If force was no rem
edy, as Mr.. Bright said, even when it was
applied by a united England. certainly it is 10
remedy when public sentiment in Wales and
Scotland is against it and English opinion is
hopelessly divided respecting the wisdom of
employing it. Mr.. Gladstone is right when he
describes the new Coercion bill as an illomcncd
measure. Although the votes requisite for it's
passage are secured in advance, the collapse of
this last and as believed, final instalment Of
repressive legislation for the island is assured
All the signs in the political sky are hostile to
it. Every by-clcction warns the Government
Al, ncf bac OH -,
A Home Ruler has been elected for Mr.. Rylands's
borough and the election in Derbyshire this
week discloscs Gladstonian gain Of / 100
votes. The revival Of the barren policy which
has alcnated the two countries since the open
ing of the century does not inspire the con-
situencies with confidence. 1t creates dis
trust and uncertainty. 1t opens tie way for
speedy triumph of Home Rule.
Mr.. Gladstone was tainted with inconsis-
tcncy in dcnouncing policywhich a few years
ago he had advocated with intense ficrceness.
lie was aided by the criminal statistics Of Ire
land iii rcpelling criticism Of this kind, since
the number of agrarian outragcs in 1880 was
Unprecedented whereas at present there are
comparatively few and the area Of intimidation
is not extending. as it was then. Crime now
consists in combinations for securing the,
abatement Of rents, which Government Com
mission has confessed to be unjust and ruinous
70 the tenants. These are the general condi-
tons under which the Government applies TO
Parliament as Mr.. Gladstone says for author
ity to make unnghteous laws more offensive to
the general sense of the people. So successful
was this defence that Mr.. Chamberlain, in his
faint-heartcd reply importuned the Govern
| In h.an 10 l.. l..
rapid stages in the Upper House so as to take
the sting out of the Coercion Act. The Union
list alliance holds for the present. and the Tory
Ministry is secure; but the end is already in
sight. Coercion is doomed. Ireland when